Storms By Andy Erickson

Dealing with storms
As Christians, how do we deal with storms in our lives?
Ps 13:1-2, Mk 4
Our faith needs to be grounded in the kingdom of God, and growing strong. Even if our faith is very small, it can grow huge.
Mk 4:35-41 The disciples found themselves in a storm and instead of having faith, they questioned Jesus. They were more focused on the storm than on the savior. Jesus cared about the storms in their lives. Sometimes he takes the storms away, sometimes he just stays with us through the storm.
Ex 33:14 My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.
Ps 121:1-2
Ps 13:5 trust in his unfailing love

Toxic: Toxic Words

-The tongue is powerful.
Prov 18:21 The tongue has the power to bring life or death. Jas 3:2-5, 9-10 If you find someone who can control their tongue, they can control their bodies as well. You can tell what is in someone's heart by what they say.
- The tongue speaks words of life and death.
Words of death - Gossip: Prov 16:28, 26:20-22, gossip destroys. Harsh and angry words: Eph 4:29. Lying: Prov 12:17,19, Prov 16:13.
Words of life - Should be nourishing, encouraging, and helpful: Prov 10:11,21,24.
- How we can speak words of life:
1. Talk less, listen more, ask questions. Prov 17:27
2. Think before you speak.
3. Speak gently. Prov 15:1.
All of this comes from the Lord, there's no way we can do it in our own strength. Luke 6:45.

Toxic: Toxic Influences

What toxic influences have I allowed into my life this week?
We live in a crazy, toxic world.
How do we handle the toxic influences?
- You need to guard your heart. When I don't, and I let all the toxic influences into my life, it's very hard to walk with God. Prov 4:23
- Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. 1 Cor 6:12, Gal 5:1
- Put it to the test. 1 Thess 5:21-22, Rom 12:2
*Am I being entertained by sin?
*Is this pleasing to God?
*Does this lure me away from Christ?
- Balance it out. Examine the influences in our life. Prov 5:21-22, Col 3:16, Ps 119:11
- Get a verse. Eph 5:1-4,15-20, 1Jn 2:3-7, 1 Pet 1:13-16

Toxic: Toxic Thoughts

Toxic - poisonous, causing sickness or death
Satan wants to make us believe toxic thoughts and live a lie.
4 thought areas in which we struggle:
- Negative thoughts make us irritable and grumpy
- Fearful thoughts rob us of the peace that passes understanding
- Discontented thoughts take away the joy that Christ offers
- Critical thoughts clog up our ability to love other people
4 ways to reject toxic thoughts:
- take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10:3-5 - We have the power of God available to us to demolish Satan's strongholds.
- Replace toxic thoughts with truth. Phil 4:8 - get into the Bible.
- Change your mind. Rom 12:2 - be transformed by the renewing of your mind (continuously). Eph 4:22-24 - put on your new self.
- Get a verse. Replace toxic thoughts with God's truth. Phil 4:4-7, Rom 8:28, Isa 41:13, Isa 43:4, Mt 6:33

Psalm 42

Psalm 42
When you find yourself in tough circumstances, preach the gospel to yourself. Peter said that our hope is not in this world, but in Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3-9.
Who talks like this? No matter what they went through, they praised God. Psalm 42:1-2, Hab 3:17-19, Job 1:20-21, Phil 1:21-22
- Do I seek after God the way that a dehydrated deer seeks after water? Why not??? Idols are the reason I don't seek after God the way I should. We love other stuff more than we love God. Ex 32:1-6, Ps 106:19-20, Mt 6:19-21. What do I put before God? No matter what it is, it will someday be gone. God will always be there. 2Cor 4:16 This should be a reminder that my body and my idols will waste away. Ezekiel 14:1-5 God will answer us, but will focus on our idols and our hearts, because he wants our whole heart. Jas 4:4-5. God longs jealously for us.

Abigail by Rick Tucker

Abigail - 1 Sam 25
We can help ourselves and those around us avoid great pain if we use wisdom and do the right thing in the right way at the right time.
- Abigail did the wise thing. She showed great wisdom. A wise person knows the right thing, and does it. Prov 4:5-13, 3:13-18 Our wisdom will impact those around us. God, what is the wisest thing I can do in this situation?
Read Proverbs over and over again, and read all of scripture, seek wisdom from godly people.
- Abigail did the right thing in the right way. She came with grace and humility, chose her words carefully, and heaped praise upon David. She reminded David who he was and who God was. Prov 15:1 Do not answer with harsh words.
- Abigail did the right thing at the right time. She acted immediately. Wisdom requires action. She didn't let fear stop her. She didn't think or talk about doing the right thing - she DID it. Prov 6:6-11 Do not be lazy. Seek wisdom. Breathe, pray, ask for wisdom, then ACT.

Psalm 42

Life can be a struggle and a mess.
Ps 42 Longing for God, feeling of being rejected, forgotten.
Just because you are Christian, life is not always going to go the way you want.
v.9 God, why have you forgotten me?
-Humbly coming before God to admit our struggles.
- he acknowledges God's control v.7
- he sings and at night his song is with me v.8
- he talked to himself v.5, and answers himself - put your hope in God! No matter what, God loves me.
- he reminded himself of great times of worship. v.4
- he thirsts for God. v.1